First recruiting class announced

Ten states, Canada represented in Marquette's inaugural class

MILWAUKEE – Marquette head coach Joe Amplo announced on Wednesday the first recruiting class in the history of the Golden Eagles’ varsity men’s lacrosse program. Amplo’s inaugural class is comprised of 25 student-athletes -- including 12 college transfers – whom have signed a National Letter of Intent or an Acceptance of Admission form to attend Marquette this fall.

“The thing that stands out to me the most is their genuine excitement about Marquette and what exists here, and their ability to be a part of the first group of guys to start this program,” Amplo said. “That is definitely something we can build on when we talk to our next set of recruits.”

Amplo and his coaching staff welcome a broad range of talent from across North America in 2011, including players who have demonstrated different styles of play at a variety of positions. Ten different states and two Canadian provinces are represented in Marquette’s first recruiting class with a geographic footprint ranging from Long Island, N.Y. to as far west as California and north to Calgary, Alberta.

“There is an exciting challenge in front of us because we are the first men’s lacrosse team at Marquette University and we get to represent that,” said Amplo. “The thing I talked to this group about specifically is that we have to build a culture -- intellectually, academically, and athletically. They are going to set the standard for Marquette men’s lacrosse and be accountable to maintaining that standard.”

The class includes 13 incoming freshman, six sophomores and six juniors, all of whom will redshirt in 2011-12. Marquette will play its first men’s lacrosse season in the spring of 2013 as an NCAA Division I independent. Marquette will then become a full member of the Big East in men’s and women’s lacrosse beginning with the 2014 season.

Marquette announced the addition of varsity men’s and women’s lacrosse in December 2010, and Amplo was named Marquette’s head men’s lacrosse coach on Feb. 4, 2011. He has since been joined by top assistant coach Stephen Brundage and assistant coach John Orsen.

Amplo, formerly the associate head coach at Hoftra University, and his coaching staff will continue to recruit through the 2011-12 academic year. The average men’s lacrosse roster size at the NCAA Division I level is nearly 45 student-athletes.